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The medical humanities minor helps students explore a variety of disciplines that relate to healthcare through a humanistic approach grounded in a liberal arts education. A humanistic approach places emphasis on the uniqueness of all individuals and their experiences and perspectives, and emphasizes the value of taking into account the whole person.

This minor recognizes that health professionals of all types treat human beings, and that the more adept health professionals are at understanding humans, the more effective they are likely to be. 

Students who complete the medical humanities minor at Carthage will be able to:

• Explain how diverse personal experiences (gender, race, class, etc.) affect the healthcare of individuals.
• Articulate the philosophical, ethical, and cultural dimensions of health, disease, and suffering.
• Recognize how health disparities and disabilities shape healthcare experiences for patients.
• Critically examine the historical and contemporary connections among health, medicine, and society.
• Synthesize knowledge of a liberal arts education in order to build the basis of a transferable skill set that applies to healthcare.

Stand out when applying for health professional school

Health professional schools are increasingly competitive and focused on students with a broader set of skills and experiences. Many of these competencies — such as cultural competence, oral and written communication, ethical responsibility to self and others, social skills, and service orientations — are required for admission to graduate programs in the health professions. A medical humanities minor positions students better for acceptance into health professional schools. 

Special healthcare management track

Unique to Carthage, medical humanities minors can follow a healthcare management track by double majoring in healthcare administration and management — equipping students with the skills needed for effective healthcare management, while also enhancing their ability to communicate empathetically with patients and their families. Download the healthcare management flyer.